California
Detroit office helps metro Detroit Girl Scouts go places, including California

Girl Scout cookies are an American favorite. But Monica Woodson knows that when Girl Scouts across southeastern Michigan do “revolutionary” things, local communities and even the world takes notice.
Girl Scout Cookies facts: 5 things to know
Here are five things you might want to know about the delicious cookies offered by Girl Scouts.
Nicole Schaub, Arizona Republic
Located just outside of Eastern Market — one of the most popular Detroit destinations for foods of virtually any kind — is an organization that is also known by many for its longtime connection to a famous sweet treat.
However, while anyone affiliated with the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan would be delighted to discuss and sell many boxes of their popular fundraising Girl Scout cookies during a certain time of year, there is considerably more that can be said about the ever-evolving story of Girl Scouts across metro Detroit.
In fact, sometimes that story stretches well beyond metro Detroit and Michigan, which will be the case when a group of metro Detroit Girl Scouts travel to California soon to participate in the Western Edge FIRST LEGO League Open robotics competition. The event, which will take place from May 31 through June 2 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, will bring together teams from around the world, including six Girl Scout Juniors from Farmington Hills — fifth graders Navika Anil, Raina Cranson, Aarushi Chatterjee, Katie Gee, Avery Pitchford and sixth grader Kate Wilpula — that comprise FIRST LEGO League Challenge Team 35450, also known as the “Gear Box Girls” by people that have become acquainted with the dedicated team coached by Karen Gee.
“It’s incredibly exciting and we couldn’t be more proud of these young ladies,” said Monica Woodson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan (GSSEM), headquartered at 1155 Gratiot within the Brewery Park Corporate Campus. “They have worked so hard to get to this point in their journey, not only with their robot, but also through raising the funds necessary to get to the global competition.
“These girls, along with all of the Girl Scouts that participate in robotics and additional STEAM activities, are forging their own paths while preparing for a future without inequities, discrimination and glass ceilings.”
From refurbished office space that formerly housed Detroit’s historic Stroh’s Brewery, Woodson and her team develop programs and activities that touch girls from miles away while focusing on the Girl Scouts’ four program pillars: entrepreneurship, outdoor education, life skills and STEAM. For example, the robotics experience that the Gear Box Girls and approximately 85 other area Girl Scouts have participated in since 2023 was supported by a partnership between GSSEM and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Michigan, which has connected the Girl Scouts to additional community resources.
As a result of the partnership, through robotics competitions like the FIRST LEGO League Michigan Championship in Saline on Dec. 16, 2023, where the Gear Box Girls earned an invitation to the global competition in Long Beach, California; and, specific age and troop-level training workshops, Girl Scouts across southeastern Michigan have been directly engaged in robotics. The participating Girl Scouts also have included Daisies (troopers between the ages of 5 and 6 or in kindergarten) that built and programmed a dinosaur LEGO robot with motors and motion sensors; and Brownies (second and third graders) that constructed and programmed a barking dog LEGO robot to demonstrate how robots interact with the world.
These activities and more support the statement that Girl Scouts are “more than cookies,” which members of Woodson’s team say they have heard a time or two from their leader.
“Girl Scout cookies are a great way to raise funds and awareness, and the activity of selling is a fun way of introducing Girl Scouts to the concepts of money, sales and working together toward a common goal,” Woodson, who oversees a service area that touches nine counties and reaches more than 22,000 girls, said. “That being said, we would be doing a disservice to our Girl Scouts and their communities if we didn’t introduce the boundless opportunities available to them. Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan represents girls with all sorts of curiosities, so we offer a variety of programs to stimulate and nurture those interests. When Girl Scouts are introduced to our dynamic and diverse programs, these amazing community projects are really the grand finale to a girl’s portfolio of experiences that bring the Girl Scout Law to life.”
Woodson’s mention of the “Girl Scout Promise and Law” provides a reminder of the profound words toward the end of the Girl Scouts Law that call for all Girl Scouts to “make the world a better place.” And there are several recent examples that show how Woodson and her team are helping area Girl Scouts respond to that noble call to action through programming that goes beyond robotics, like the 10-part “Virtual Friday Night Live with a Commissioner,” made possible through a partnership between GSSEM and the Michigan Women’s Commission, which allows Girl Scout Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, Volunteers and Ambassadors to learn how to “make the changes they want to see in the world” through live virtual interaction with female leaders in Michigan government, such as Maria Martinez, deputy chief of staff for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who will chat with Girl Scouts on the evening of May 24. Before that event, an expected 200-plus Girl Scouts and their chaperones will descend on downtown Detroit for Discover Detroit Day on Saturday, May 18, a collaboration between GSSEM and City Tour Detroit, which will allow the participating Girl Scouts to earn Discover Detroit, People Mover and Urban Explorer patches during a day focused on education and exploration.
Then there are the ongoing Girl Scout Gold Award projects that address community issues, such as the project conducted by Sage Johnson, a member of Troop No. 43550 from Hartford Memorial Baptist Church. Johnson, a graduating senior at Mercy High School, created a project aimed at inspiring elementary and middle school students to explore STEM fields and develop problem-solving skills through experiments she conducted with students attending Paul Robeson Malcolm X Academy in Detroit. Due to the success of the project, which also included medical professionals as advisers, the school has decided to host the event annually.
“From mental health services on school campuses to disability awareness on the playground to developing a pollinator garden, Gold Award Girl Scouts take action to discover a root cause of an issue that they feel passionate about that has national and/or global ties, while creating a sustainable and measurable impact,” explained Woodson, whose organization received a fundraising boost connected to the recent NFL draft thanks to a Girl Scout-themed, giant cleat artwork created by Laura Mettam — a GSSEM parent volunteer — and Kay Blair. The artistic giant cleat was installed at the Detroit Foundation Hotel as part of the DCLEATED exhibit, which raised money for local charities. “You never know what might spark a revolutionary resolution to an issue. And our Gold Award Girl Scouts embody this theory.”
And while there may not be a way to predict just when a Girl Scout will do something that is “revolutionary,” one observer of the local team heading to California has an idea of what competitors from around the world are about to see.
“The Girl Scouts are a force to reckon with,” proclaimed Leon Pryor Jr., a 2024 co-recipient of the Woodie Flowers Award presented by FIRST Michigan to outstanding mentors, who provided information and motivation to members of the Gear Box Girls and other Girl Scouts that participated in a Robotics Expo presented by GSSEM and FIRST Michigan in Dearborn on May 4. “For sure, their (the Gear Box Girls) invitation to compete in a global event is a victory for the entire local robotics and STEM community. Our team at Marygrove High School has volunteered at workshops where we have been able to share with Girl Scouts, and they tend to dominate FIRST LEGO League competitions.
“We wish the team going to Long Beach continued success and we encourage them to stay the course when it comes to STEM engagement.”
Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a lifelong lover of Detroit culture in its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the city’s neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott’s stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber.

California
Trump's border czar threatens arrest for immigration interference, warns Newsom and Bass not to 'cross that line'

LOS ANGELES — The Trump administration’s border czar warned that immigration enforcement will continue “every day” in Los Angeles, hinting that even elected officials could face arrest if they interfere with agents on the ground.
Tom Homan, appointed by President Donald Trump, appeared undeterred by the volatile protests against federal agents in Los Angeles who were carrying out immigration raids. Enforcement would be a daily occurrence, he said in a late-Saturday interview with NBC News.
“I’m telling you what, we’re going to keep enforcing law every day in L.A.,” Homan said. “Every day in L.A., we’re going to enforce immigration law. I don’t care if they like it or not.”
Follow along for live coverage
Parts of Los Angeles County erupted in wide-scale protests on Saturday after residents learned that Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids were happening in the area. Demonstrations descended into chaos, with videos showing protesters surrounding federal law enforcement on the ground and in vehicles. At least one person was hit by a car they were trying to stop from moving.
While many protests around the city remained peaceful, some escalated into clashes where authorities deployed tear gas and officers fired what appeared to be less-lethal ammunition at demonstrators.
The Los Angeles Police Department arrested 11 people Saturday night for failure to disperse, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the situation.
Trump made good on his threat to deploy the National Guard against protesters, as Guardsmen arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday morning. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned it would escalate tensions.
Homan has previously threatened arrest for anyone who obstructs immigration enforcement. When asked whether that would include Newsom or Bass, Homan did not rule it out.
“I’ll say it about anybody,” Homan said. “You cross that line, it’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job.”
He did not accuse any politician of impeding enforcement, and when asked about Bass specifically, he said that he doesn’t believe “she’s crossed the line yet.” A spokesperson for Bass did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ongoing enforcement concerns
Protests are expected to continue in Los Angeles on Sunday, as many residents take issue with the way ICE has been operating on the ground.
Homan told NBC News that ICE was “prioritizing” threats to public safety. He cited a raid on a business in downtown Los Angeles’ Fashion District, saying agents were executing warrants as part of a criminal investigation.
But Homan also implied that the government does not differentiate between violent criminals and those who commit civil immigration violations when enforcing deportation laws.
“I’ve said a thousand times that aperture will open,” Homan said. “And I said, if you’re in the country illegally, you’re not off the table.”
Immigration raids have targeted workplaces and Home Depots, where many day laborers often gather to find manual labor jobs. Homan told NBC News that ICE agents at Home Depots were looking for “final orders,” which is a final order of removal.
Individuals have also been taken into ICE custody while attending immigration interviews, causing fear among those going through the legal immigration process.
Homan denied some of the allegations that ICE has been operating at schools, hospitals and churches, calling it misinformation. He criticized the overt hostility toward ICE agents, saying they’re unfairly compared to terrorists and Nazis.
Homan had harsh words for Newsom, calling the governor an “embarrassment for the state” and denouncing California’s “Sanctuary State” law. Sanctuary laws prevent local authorities from being compelled to participate in federal immigration enforcement.
“If he cared about public safety in the state of California, he would not have a sanctuary for criminals, where criminals get released to the street in this state every day because of his policy,” Homan said of Newsom.
In reality, California state prisons regularly cooperate with ICE, as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is required by law to identify individuals subject to deportation within 90 days. However, if ICE fails pick up the individual prior to release, the department does not hold anyone past their release date.
A spokesperson for Newsom did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“The rhetoric keeps rising and rising and rising — someone’s gonna get hurt,” Homan said. “If this violence isn’t tamped down, someone’s gonna die, and that’s just that’s just a cold fact of life.”
California
Death row inmate killed in California prison as guards deploy blast grenades to control violent mob attack

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating after a death row inmate was killed at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano on Friday.
Convicted murderer Mario Renteria, 36, allegedly started beating fellow inmate, Julian Mendez, 46, at about 10:30 a.m. Friday, prompting prison staff to respond.
Officers ordered them to get down, but the men failed to comply, according to a CDCR news release obtained by Fox News Digital.
Chemical agents initially stopped the attack, but more than 30 additional inmates rushed Renteria and began striking him.
Julian Mendez was pronounced dead after the jail attack. (CDCR)
ESCAPED CALIFORNIA INMATE WHO KILLED LEADER OF ELITE MEXICAN POLICE UNIT WHILE ON THE RUN HAS BEEN ARRESTED
Orders to stop were ignored, and staff used multiple blast grenades to quell the violence, according to CDCR.
Mendez suffered multiple wounds, and life-saving measures were immediately taken. He was taken to the prison’s triage and treatment area, where a doctor pronounced him dead at 11:05 a.m.

Prisoner Mario Renteria was allegedly the first to attack the death row inmate. (CDCR)
ARIZONA PRISONER SERVING 16 LIFE SENTENCES ACCUSED OF KILLING THREE FELLOW INMATES
Officials said an improvised weapon was found at the scene, though the type of weapon was unclear.
Renteria remains in restricted housing pending investigation, according to CDCR.
Officials limited population movement to facilitate the investigation by the prison’s Investigative Services Unit and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.
The Office of the Inspector General was notified, and the Kern County Coroner will determine Mendez’s official cause of death.

The Kern Valley State Prison attack involved more than 30 inmates in Delano, Calif., on Friday. (Kern Valley State Prison)
DA TO SEEK DEATH PENALTY AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ACCUSED IN NUNGARAY MURDER CASE
Mendez was received from Riverside County on Dec. 2, 2004, according to CDCR. He received a condemned sentence in 2002 for the first-degree murder of two teenagers.
CDCR said Renteria was received from Riverside County on April 27, 2022, and was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder (a third-strike offense) and arson.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Kern Valley State Prison opened in 2005 and houses over 3,100 minimum- and high-security-custody inmates.
California
President of California’s largest union arrested while observing ICE raids in LA

Labor leader David Huerta was detained while observing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids taking place in Los Angeles.
The Service Employees International Union California (SEIU) says that its president was injured during the ICE raids and is calling for his release, NBC4 Los Angeles reports.
“SEIU California members call for the immediate release of our President, David Huerta, who was injured and detained at the site of one of today’s ICE raids in Los Angeles. He is now receiving medical attention while in custody,” Tia Orr, Executive Director of SEIU California, said.
Mayor Karen Bass told NBC4 that Huerta had been pepper-sprayed during the incident.
“He is doing ok physically, but I know what really impacted him the most was the emotional trauma of watching parents and kids being separated,” Bass said. “He’s going into ICE custody and we hope to get him out very soon.”

The mayor said she does not know why Huerta is being detained.
The SEIU issued a statement supporting Huerta, insisting that he was “exercising his First Amendment right to observe and document law enforcement activity.”
“We are proud of President Huerta’s righteous participation as a community observer, in keeping with his long history of advocating for immigrant workers and with the highest values of our movement: standing up to injustice, regardless of personal risk or the power of those perpetrating it,” the union said.

Orr also condemned the ICE raids.
“We call for an end to the cruel, destructive, and indiscriminate ICE raids that are tearing apart our communities, disrupting our economy, and hurting all working people. Immigrant workers are essential to our society: feeding our nation, caring for our elders, cleaning our workplaces, and building our homes,” she said.
Bass said she is going to meet with immigrant support groups to discuss plans for responding to situations like the mass ICE raids in the future.
“My message to them is that we are going to fight for all Angelenos regardless of when they got here, whether they have papers or not,” she said. “We are a city of immigrants, and this impacts hundreds of thousands of Angelenos.”
ICE arrested approximately 44 people in Friday’s raid, according to Homeland Security Investigations.
“Today, ICE officers and agents alongside partner law enforcement agencies, executed four federal search warrants at three location in central Los Angeles. Approximately 44 people were administratively arrested and one arrest for obstruction. The investigation remains ongoing, updates will follow as appropriate,” HSI spokesperson Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe said in a statement.
-
News1 week ago
Video: Faizan Zaki Wins Spelling Bee
-
Politics1 week ago
Michelle Obama facing backlash over claim about women's reproductive health
-
Technology1 week ago
OpenAI wants ChatGPT to be a ‘super assistant’ for every part of your life
-
Technology1 week ago
SEC drops Binance lawsuit in yet another gift to crypto
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
The Verdict Movie Review: When manipulation meets its match
-
Technology1 week ago
Why do SpaceX rockets keep exploding?
-
World1 week ago
Two killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine before possible talks in Turkiye
-
News1 week ago
Oil companies face a wrongful death suit tied to climate change